A20752:647
The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…
The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems of the spiritual enemies of our salvation, Satan and his assistants the world and the flesh, with the means also whereby the Christian may withstand and defeat them : and afterwards more specially their particular temptations, against the several causes and means of our salvation, whereby on the one side they allure us to security and presumption, and on the other side, draw us to doubting and desperation, are expressed and answered : written especially for their sakes who are exercised in the spiritual conflict of temptations, and are afflicted in conscience in the sight and sense of their sins / by I. Downame ...The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems of the spirituall ennemies of our saluation, Sathan and his assistants the world and the flesh, with the meanes also whereby the Christian may vvithstand and defeate them : and afterwards more speciallie their particvlar temptatiions, against the seuerall causes and meanes of our saluation, whereby on the one side they allure vs to security and presumption, and on the other side, draw vs to doubting and desperation, are expressed and answered : written especially for their sakes who are exercised in the spirituall conflict of temptations, and are afflicted in conscience in the sight and sense of their sinnes / by I. Dovvname ...
London: printed for Cuthbert Burby, 1604
Book 2 › Chapter 15: That all who are redeemed are also sanctified.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The second temptation which he useth to the same purpose, he thus frameth; Christ hath redeemed all, at least who believe in him, be their sins never so many and grievous: and therefore thou mayest continue in thy sins with pleasure and delight, and satisfy the lusts of thine own flesh; only believe and thou shalt be saved, for Christ requireth no other condition. Neither is there any other end of Christs coming, but that he should by his suffering take away thy sins; and therefore why shouldest thou vex and torment thy self, in embracing bitter mortification and newness of life, and in shunning thy sweet and pleasing sins, seeing Christ redeemeth the greatest sinners as well as the least?
The second temptation which he vseth to the same purpose, he thus frameth; Christ hath redeemed all, at least who beleeue in him, be their sinnes neuer so many and grieuous: and therefore thou maist continue in thy sinnes with pleasure and delight, and satisfie the lusts of thine owne flesh; only beleeue and thou shalt be saued, for Christ requireth no other condition. Neither is there any other end of Christs comming, but that he should by his suffring take away thy sinnes; and therefore why shouldest thou vexe and torment thy selfe, in embracing bitter mortification and newnesse of life, and in shunning thy sweete and pleasing sinnes, seeing Christ redeemeth the greatest sinners as well as the least?
The answer. To this we are to answer, that there are no sins so innumerable in multitude, and so heinous in their quality and nature, which will exclude us from the benefit of our redemption wrought by Christ, so we apply his death and merits unto us, by a true and lively faith: but yet notwithstanding, this can be no encouragement for any to continue in their sins; for first, we are to know, that none have part in this redemption wrought by Christ, but those only who are made partakers thereof by a true and lively faith; which is never separated from the fruits thereof, true repentance and holiness of life; neither is it possible that any should be assured of Gods love, but this assurance will make them to love God again, and this love will work in their hearts a zeal of his glory, and a care to glorify his name, by causing the light of their godly lives to shine before men; it is not possible that any who truly believe that that they are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, should not highly esteem and be exceedingly thankful to Christ for this inestimable benefit, which none can do who tread the blood of Christ under their feet, and voluntarily cast themselves into the bondage of sin, out of which we are redeemed with so precious a price, and so scorn this benefit and despite our Saviour who hath bestowed it; it cannot be that any should be so foolish as to sell their souls unto sin for every vain pleasure and trifling commodity, if they be assured that Christ redeemed them with the price of his precious blood, which was of more value than many worlds; and therefore whosoever make no conscience of sin have no